Historical Soil Survey Studies and Their Impact On Modern Soil Survey.

Soil geomorphology informs and empowers our understanding of soil geography, soil dynamics, and soil morphology (the record).  Soil landscape projects have been a fundamental part of the National Soil Survey since the 1950’s.  Four large soil geomorphology projects were conducted by NRCS (nee SCS) beginning in the late 1950’s that targeted large knowledge gaps in 4 disparate regions: the Des Moines lobe (IA), the Atlantic Coastal Plain (NC), Desert Soils Project (NM), the Willamette Valley (OR).  Smaller subsequent projects were conducted in PR, Illinoisan till plain (IN)and targeted, modest projects in the Ozark Mountains (MO), HI, and southern IL.  In recent years, projects have included soil geomorphology as part of broader, interdisciplinary topics notably the Wet Soils Monitoring Program and loose consortia focused on subaqueous soils.  Case studies are presented including key discoveries or subsequent impact of these landscape projects on soil survey and on Soil Science in general.